Agent for charities Clarks Summit woman extends a helping hand in everything she does

Carol Chisdak has been recognized for her accomplishments as an entrepreneur and small business owner throughout her career as a local Realtor. The Clarks Summit resident is also active with numerous charitable boards, including those for the Women's Resource Center, the Salvation Army, Ronald McDonald House of Scranton and the Voluntary Action Center.

Helping people isn't just what Carol Chisdak does charitably in her free time. It's also what she does for a living, from her point of view.

The Clarks Summit resident is a real estate associate broker and Pennsylvania certified appraiser for Classic Properties, which she co-founded 30 years ago. When she's not guiding folks through the complexities of picking and purchasing their dream home, though, Ms. Chisdak volunteers on a number of boards for local nonprofits.

A Pittsburgh native, Ms. Chisdak moved to the area three decades ago for a family dental business and entered the field of real estate based on her natural interest in it.

Important time

"What I realized after I got into it, was that I'm helping people with the most important purchase of their life," she said. "It's a critical time."

To better aid her clients, she has extensively pursued continuing training and education, and has served as a past president of the Scranton Board of Realtors, past chairwoman of the PA Association of Realtors Education Committee and the Make America Better Committee, and was past recipient of Realtor of the Year. Her company was named Small Business of the Year in 1999, and Ms. Chisdak also was named a Woman Entrepreneur of the Year in 1997.

"I've probably done more schooling than most because I felt, 'How could I be confident in helping people spend all this money?'" she said. "I just wanted to better myself."

Often, Ms. Chisdak said, she can't help but grow attached to her clients, and miss them after they buy their home.

"Meeting people, becoming friends with them, I get sad when we don't see each other anymore, even though I'm happy for them," she said.

To fill her time, Ms. Chisdak turns to numerous local organizations to donate her services. She has been part of the board of the Ronald McDonald House of Scranton for more than 25 years and is a past president. She chairs the upcoming Gourmet Gala fundraiser to aid sick children and their families on April 7.

Ms. Chisdak also has dedicated more than a decade to the Arc of NEPA, which serves the intellectually and developmentally disabled. She is the current president of the board.

The list of other boards on which Ms. Chisdak serves reads like a roll call of some of the most recognized organizations in the region, including Women's Resource Center Association, Salvation Army advisory board, Voluntary Action Center of NEPA, Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic and the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce board of directors.

When she can, she also helps with the local UNICO chapter, and supports other charitable activities.

Still, if Ms. Chisdak had her way, she'd squeeze a few more hours into every day just so she could give a little more.

"I wish I had more time for each group," she said. "The people here are very community minded, and if they can just continue to do that, it's needed now more than ever.

Enjoys helping

"At the end of the day, I like to know I helped someone," she added. "Meeting other board members and sharing their passion, it gives me a sense of accomplishment knowing someone was helped because I was here."

With so many demands on her time, it's easy to imagine that she feels a little overwhelmed now and then. But when Ms. Chisdak gives herself a moment to step back and regain focus, her path is clear, she said.

"I think to myself, I can do anything for an hour, or a day. When I hit the wall, that's what I'm thinking: 'I can work through it.'"

TO NOMINATE A NORTHEAST WOMAN, please submit requests via email to lifestyles@timessham rock.com or mail them to Northeast Woman Nominations, The Sunday Times, 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503. Please include the woman's name, address and the reason the reader feels the woman is deserving. Those submitting need to include their name and a daytime phone number.

Meet Carol Chisdak

At home: Lives in Clarks Summit. Daughter of Chuck and Rose Ann Kadane and has a sister, Patti Blei. Mother of two sons, Kurt and John, and daughter-in-law Diane; grandmother of Emma and Abby.

At work: She is a real estate associate broker and Pennsylvania certified appraiser for Classic Properties, of which she is a co-founder.

Inspiration: Helping other people

Aspirations: Spending more time with her family; traveling, especially to Italy; and to become better organized.

Diversions: Golf and socializing

Quote: "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain." - Vivian Greene

We welcome user discussion on our site, under the following guidelines:

To comment you must first create a profile and sign-in with a verified DISQUS account or social network ID. Sign up here.

Comments in violation of the rules will be denied, and repeat violators will be banned. Please help police the community by flagging offensive comments for our moderators to review. By posting a comment, you agree to our full terms and conditions. Click here to read terms and conditions.